December 30, 2021

STANDING FAST WITH LOVE

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.

Encouraging Words

Paul finishes his letter to the Corinthians with this admonition. It is a great way to persevere through each day of life as we press on to that final day before we leave this earth to be with our Lord. We are to be constantly on the watch for Him and His eminent return. We have been given a faith in Him and His work. We are to stand fast in that faith. We must be brave and strong as we confront the things of this world and the challenges and temptations that come our way. And most importantly, we do all of this in love. Glory be to God!

December 29, 2021

NOT IN VAIN

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Encouraging Words

Sometimes it feels like living a Christian life is not worth it. We often fail new people coming into the Christian faith by painting this rosy picture of how wonderful it is to be a Christian. It is wonderful! It is freedom of the utmost kind! But it is a difficult life. If we are truly trying to be like Christ, then we will continually be at odds with the world that we live in. We must abandon the ways of the world, separate ourselves from the worlds' political and socio-economic way of thinking, and live the life that God calls us to. We must leave behind our preferences and desires so that we can embrace our Lord. This might mean getting a vaccine or wearing a mask for loving our neighbor and taking care of them is more important than our own preferences. It might mean doing things differently than how we want to do it because the good of the many is more important than the good of one...me. It means putting others first because that is what Jesus did. Being a Christian is not doing what I want to do, slapping a WWJD sticker on it, and calling it blessed by Him. It means doing what He has asked me to do, doing it joyfully, and not seeking any reward at the end. This is what it means to be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 28, 2021

PEACE NOT CONFUSION

1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Encouraging Words

Many of our churches today have become places where confusion and discord reign. This is clearly not of God. God is the author of peace and unity, not confusion and discord. We can hold onto this as a promise from Him. If we are not experiencing this in our community then we need to look to Him for direction and correction. Glory be to God!

December 25, 2021

LOVE

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Personal Challenge

Life is full of twists and turns as well as ups and downs. It can truly be a rollercoaster. Throughout life we have the opportunity to make many choices, all of which end up with many different consequences. One choice that we can always make, no matter what the circumstances are with respect to what is going on around us, is to love others. Love is above all as Paul points out here. Love also means that we have to make some tough decisions. As we abide in faith, hope, and love, these decisions will be guided by our Lord and the consequences will be bearable. Glory be to God!

December 20, 2021

FOR THE PROFIT OF ALL

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Encouraging Words

God has blessed us with the church, the Bride of Christ, as our safe place to work out our salvation. Part of what He does in that church, the body, is to grant different gifts to the members. These gifts are given for the express purpose of building up the church. We are to use our gifts for the profit of all and not just for ourselves. It is so rewarding to know your personal gifts that God has blessed you with and to be able to use them for His work. It is also very disheartening to know your gifts and to not be able to put them to work for the body. This often happens when others are jealous or fearful of the gifts of others. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

December 19, 2021

WHATEVER YOU DO

1 Corinthians 10:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Personal Challenge

As a follower of Christ, we are supposed to be walking in the footsteps of our Lord and savior. This means that we try to live as He would. Jesus did not take any short cuts. He gave His all for His Father, and ultimately, all of us. What does this mean for us? It means that in whatever we do, we do it for the glory of God. We gave our all, 100%, plus anything else that we can muster. Are we asked to clean the toilets or vacuum the rugs, then we do it for His glory. Are we singing in the choir or teaching a class or working in the nursery, then we do it for His glory. And this does not stop with the church. In my job, at my home, when I go shopping, everything that I do should be for His glory. It saddens me that in the six decades that I have been trying to follow Jesus, I have seen this mindset dwindle down to be almost non-existent, not only in our society, but more sadly in our churches. We, those of us who practice Christianity, should be different than the rest of the world. We are quickly being indistinguishable from the world around us. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

December 18, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. John Chrysostom

December 17, 2021

LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS

1 Corinthians 10:24

Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.

Personal Challenge

Life works out so much differently when we apply this principle of looking out for the well-being of others rather than seeking our own needs and desires. This is not only counter intuitive but it is also counter cultural. Our culture presses us to look out for ourselves, number one, and let everyone else fend for themselves. And where has this gotten us? We are at a place where lies are heralded as the truth. conspiracy theories abound, politicians and business leaders are corrupt and self-centered, and the common person is angry and misguided. If we hold on to the teachings and truths that we are all created in the image of God, that we are to love our God first and our neighbor second, that we are to die to ourselves so that others might be lifted up, and that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, then we will see a world around us in a much different way and be shakers and changers in our world. Glory be to God!

December 16, 2021

TAKE HEED

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Personal Challenge

No matter how spiritual we are, we are all still susceptible to temptations. Even Jesus, the son of God, was tempted. The first thing that we must do in light of these temptations is to recognize that we cannot resist them on our own. We need God to be there, through the Holy Spirit, to lead us through the temptation. Secondly, we can hold on to the promise that there will be no temptation coming our way that God is not there with us, making sure that we have the capability to resist it, providing us an escape, and giving us the power to bear it. God wants us to succeed in winning the battle with the enemy. Glory be to God!

December 15, 2021

THE CROWN

1 Corinthians 9:25-27

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Personal Challenge

What is the crown that we are each pursuing? For some it is the crown of fame. For some it is power. Others are pursuing wealth. Some even make their crown that they pursue, health. All of these crowns are temporal and will someday perish and be turned back into dust. These crowns are all uncertain and fleeting. As a follower of Christ, our pursuit should be for the imperishable crown, that crown that will be placed on our head by our Lord for running a race that glorifies Him. This crown comes from a life of discipline and persistence in our pursuit for our Lord, Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 14, 2021

RUN

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Personal Challenge

Life is like a race. A race that ever person who tries ever lived, who is alive now, and who will be alive until Jesus returns. In that race we are all striving to win the prize, the prize of eternal life with our King. He is the only one that can give us that trophy. He is the only one that has actually won that trophy. He is the one that is willing to share that trophy with us. Our part in this race is to run it as if we are the only one that can win it. We are to put our all into it, running relentlessly to the very end so that we can be crowned by Him at the end. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

December 13, 2021

FOOD

1 Corinthians 8:8

But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

Encouraging Words

The Christians of the early church had a challenge to deal with that we do not have in this present age. They lived in a time when there were many gods celebrated and worshiped. Part of that worship was the sacrificing of animals to the gods. The problem came in where most of the food in the markets was food that had been used in these sacrificial ceremonies and then sold to the public. What was a Christian to do? How could they eat this food with a clear conscience? Paul reminded them that food is just that, food. He taught that they were free in Christ and that eating this food would have no impact on them. He also taught that their love and concern for their brothers and sisters was of utmost importance and that if eating this food would cause them to stumble, then don't eat it. It always comes down to loving others. Today this applies to wearing or not wearing masks, having a vaccine or not. Love for another is above all else. Glory be to God!

December 11, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. Basil the Great

December 10, 2021

EQUALS IN MARRIAGE

1 Corinthians 7:3-4

Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Personal Challenge

In the Orthodox marriage ceremony, the bride and the groom put on crowns that are tied together with a ribbon. There is a time when the priest moves the crowns back and forth between the two. The bride and the groom or co-rulers in their marriage and household. They are the king and queen ruling side by side. As Paul elicits in this passage, they are expected to render themselves, give up their authority, to each other so that they can be unified in their marriage. Much of Western Christianity sets up a hierarchy between the husband and the wife with the husband having his dominion over their wife and family. This is not how God ordained marriage to work. Glory be to God!

December 9, 2021

BOUGHT WITH A PRICE

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Personal Challenge

Is it possible to be a follower of Christ and live as everyone else in the world lives? Not really. God paid a very expensive price to redeem us from the grip of death and this world. He continues to pay a price by giving us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. It is our responsibility, and our privilege, to glorify God in our body and spirit. This will always set us at odds with the world. We cannot be a true follower of Christ and a full blown citizen of this world at the same time. Only one of these will become our master. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 8, 2021

POWER OF CHOICE

1 Corinthians 6:12

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Encouraging Words

So many people turn away from the thought of becoming a follower of Christ because they think their life will be restricted by a myriad of rules and regulations. They believe it is too high of a price to pay. However, Paul points out to us that Jesus fulfilled the Law and that we are actually free in Christ. As we grow in our relationship with Him we begin to understand that we are really free to do whatever we want in life, but we choose to do those things that glorify and edify Him. The things of this world are no longer attractive to us. We also learn that pursuing the things of this world begins to bind us to this world and get in the way of our relationship with God. As we mature in Christ we gladly give up the things of this world for the things of God. Glory be to God!

December 7, 2021

WASHED, SANCTIFIED, AND JUSTIFIED

1 Corinthians 6:11

And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Encouraging Words

The preceding verses to this one calls out all of the things that we were before we became followers of Christ. We were fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, and all other sorts of people that lived our lives apart from God. Anything, no matter how big or small, that separates us from God is bad and needs to be removed from our lives. As we enter into His family through baptism and chrismation, we are cleansed from these past sins and made whole before our Lord. Glory be to God!

December 6, 2021

WE ARE NOT JUDGES

1 Corinthians 5:12-13

For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Personal Challenge

There are some in the church today that believe it is their responsibility to be judges of those in the world. That is not true. Only God can be the true godly and righteous judge. We are called to be beacons of light into a dark world, shining His light to all. This is bringing His Gospel to the lost. We cannot do this and be judges at the same time. Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 5, 2021

FOOLS FOR CHRIST

1 Corinthians 4:10

We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

Personal Challenge

What is the most important thing in our lives? Is it Jesus Christ? If it is not, then something of this world is. Does the world look at us and our everyday behavior, and call us a fool because we have given ourselves over to Him and live as He would live? If not, then we are living for ourselves and not God. I must search my own life and identify those areas where I have not submitted to my Lord and seek forgiveness for holding on to the things of Egypt rather than yielding to the promised land. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 4, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. Clement of Alexandria

December 3, 2021

SELF-DECEPTION

1 Corinthians 3:18

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

Personal Challenge

We so often confuse knowledge with wisdom. It is one thing to be very learned and full of a lot of information about things, even important things, but it is entirely something else to have the wisdom to know how or when to apply that knowledge. We have become a people of the information age and are experts at collecting a lot of information. But if we do not have the wisdom of God within us, and most importantly, are willing to listen to that voice of wisdom, then we are fools before God and man and deceived. It is more important to know God intimately than to know volumes of information about Him. He wants us to become fools in this world for Him so that He can make us wise in Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 2, 2021

SURPRISES AHEAD

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Encouraging Words

Just as we can never, in our finite state, know and understand the greatness of our God, we will never know until we enter into His Kingdom, the wonderful things that He has prepared for us. We do not just live our lives in the present day for the gifts that He has bestowed upon us, but we live in the hope of all that He has prepared for us into eternity. Glory be to God!

December 1, 2021

GLORY IN THE LORD

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

Personal Challenge

Being in a church that has rubrics that are followed on a regular basis, it can be easy to slip into a mindset where we begin to think that the adherence to those rubrics is what saves us or gives us righteousness. Not so! The rubrics are there to teach us discipline. It is like going to the gym. There are all forms of exercising equipment available to us. The equipment does not do anything to help us tone and shape our bodies unless we develop the discipline to use it properly. In our churches, it is Christ Jesus who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It is living in Him, practicing His teachings , and developing the discipline of walking in Him that makes us His children. Through Him, and Him alone, that we have glory. Glory be to God!

November 30, 2021

UPSIDE DOWN GOD

1 Corinthians 1:25-29

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Encouraging Words

Throughout the scriptures, both the old and the new testaments, we see God doing and saying things that are upside down from our earthly perspective. He chose David, the smallest and meekest of all his brothers to be the King. He used Moses who had difficulty speaking to be His spokesman to Pharaoh, He chose a young girl to be the mother of His Son. And, the list goes on. By doing this, God elevated those who were humble and submissive. He showed us all that it is not by our power and capability that we accomplish His work but that it is Him, and only Him, that accomplishes His work through those who are willing to submit to Him. It is up to us to be willing to submit to Him and those that He has chosen to use in order to be used by Him ourselves. We do this out of our love for Him and our desire to glorify and magnify Him and not us. Glory be to God!

November 28, 2021

FOOLISHNESS

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Encouraging Words

God's ways are so much different than the ways of men. He used the cross, the most abased image in the history of mankind, to lift up His Son as the salvation of mankind. In our human mind, we believe that glory and honor is what is needed to be leaders of others. For God, humility is the key to this, not glory and honor. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

November 27, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. John of the Cross

November 23, 2021

NO DIVISIONS

1 Corinthians 1:10

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Personal Challenge

We live in a very contentious age where the concept of us versus them has become prevalent and the norm. This has even worked its way into the church. Mob rule is not an acceptable way for a follower of Christ. Coercion and undermining others are not acceptable Christian practices. We have been given a model of leadership to follow and ways to have civil discourse amongst our fellow brothers and sisters in order to maintain unity in the body of Christ. When we choose to abandon this we end up with divisions and anarchy, which are antithetical to our God's way. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

November 22, 2021

DECEPTION IN THE CHURCH

Romans 16:17-18

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

Personal Challenge

In the early church, Paul and the other church fathers had to deal with those who were bent on causing divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrines of the church. We still have this problem today in our churches. For many years it was the pew hoppers that would go from congregation to congregation in their denominational preference always trying to either find that one thing that tickled their ears or trying to make their new church conform to how they wanted the church to be. When that did not work, they would jump again. Today we are seeing people jump from one faith practice to another with the intent to make the new one that they end up in like the one they have just left. This is not how it is supposed to be and Paul is telling us to avoid these people. There are times when we should turn away those who are not willing to accept aid embrace the teachings and ways of the church. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

November 21, 2021

ABOUND IN HOPE

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Encouraging Words

Who do we put our hope in? God, the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. Where does this hope come from? God, the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. These are encouraging words. God fills us with hope in Him. He fills us with joy and peace as we act upon that gift of hope by trusting in Him. This is why Jesus promised us the filling of the Holy Spirit when He ascended into heaven. Glory be to God!

November 20, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. Ignatius

November 19, 2021

HOPE

Romans 15:4

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Personal Challenge

Hope can be a fleeting thing, especially if we put our hope into the wrong thing. As Christians, our hope is in Jesus Christ, not the things of this world, such as, wealth, health, fame, politicians, or celebrities. Jesus is our only hope. He is the only one that is not changing and is eternal. One area that we can stay in so that we can build up our hope is the Scriptures that have been given to us. These Scriptures are not our God, but they point us to Him. Glory be to God!

November 18, 2021

PLEASING OTHERS

Romans 15:1-3

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

Personal Challenge

Living in a community can be difficult. We believe in Orthodoxy that our salvation is worked out, or exercised in community, in our church family. Part of this entails observing and understanding the weaknesses of our brothers and sisters and then giving up some of what we want or desire in order to meet their needs. This is clearly loving our neighbor and putting their needs above ours. Where the difficulty comes in this is when those who are weak have needs and desires that are leading to error or heresy. At this point there is no room for allowing those errors or heresies to take root. In love we must confront those going down the wrong path. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

November 17, 2021

EDIFYING ANOTHER

Romans 14:19

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Personal Challenge

Why should we be doing the things that God calls us to do in our lives? Initially it is because we love our God and desire to please Him and in our own way give back to Him some of the gift He has given us. It is never possible to repay Him for His great mercy and love that He has poured out on us. As we continue to live this way, we begin to understand that part of this way of living also ends up edifying those around us because our love for God overflows for love for those whom we come into contact. This whole section in the book of Romans talks about food and how eating certain foods at certain times can be a stumbling block to others. This was so important in the time when much of the food available was leftover from sacrifices to pagan gods. We do not have that situation today, but for those of us who practice fasting in our church life, there are similar issues, for both those who fast according to very strict rules and those who fast according to more flexible rules. Both parties can have a tendency to look down on the other if they take their eyes off of God and set them on their brothers and sisters. This is why Paul teaches us to pursue the things which make for peace and which edify one another. It is the things of God that are important and not the things of man. This applies to so many other things in our church life other than food. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

November 16, 2021

NO STUMBLING BLOCKS

Romans 14:12-13

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.

Personal Challenge

In our desire to follow Christ we strive to love our neighbor for by doing this we glorify God and bring His light into the world. This is the reason that we are not to judge others but to be prepared to give an account of ourselves to God. Not only are we not to judge our fellow human, but we should strive to live our lives in such a way so as to not be a stumbling block to another causing them to fall. Glory be to God!

November 15, 2021

WHO IS THE JUDGE?

Romans 14:7-10

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Personal Challenge

We are not alone in this life that we live. We are synergistically connected to everyone else on this earth. Our actions, and inactions, behave as a pebble dropped in a lake that sends out a ripple to the extremities of the lake, touching every inch of the shoreline. In all of this, we are also not our own, we are the Lords, which is why Christ died for us. If we are all His, both the living and the dead, then it makes sense that only He has the right to be the judge over our actions and inactions. Again, it is not our responsibility, or right, to be judge jury, and executioner. Glory be to God alone!

November 14, 2021

DO NOT JUDGE

Romans 14:3-4

Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Personal Challenge

Every single person that I know, especially me, has enough "bad" stuff that we are mixed up in with our lives that we have no room to be judging another. As my former priest would often say, "Look at your own plate." We have many disciplines in the Orthodox church that we practice to try to teach ourselves to submit fully to our God. One of these is fasting. We do not fast to check off a box in the godliness checklist. We do it to discipline our bodies and our minds to hunger after our Lord. It is easy to look at those around us during our fasting times and accuse them of breaking the fast. By doing this, we have just broken our own discipline by judging our brother. We are not to judge one another. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

November 13, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. John of the Cross

November 12, 2021

DUTY TO THE GOVERNMENT

Romans 13:1

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Personal Challenge

Here is one area that I personally believe that the modern Christian is failing to follow the teachings of our faith. It has become acceptable to deride our government, even to the point of participating in an insurrection, in the name of God. God has commanded us, both here by Paul and earlier in the scriptures by Jesus, himself, to submit to the authority of the government. God expects this because He is the one who has put that government in place. If the government is not moving in the direction that glorifies God then we have the right to exercise the tools of our citizenship here on earth, such as voting, to change it. We do not have the right to be subversive and destructive. By doing this with the earthly governments, we eventually digress to the state where we also believe we can behave this way with the leadership of the Church, God forbid! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy on those who profess you as Lord and yet live with allegiance to the ways of this world!

November 11, 2021

LIVE PEACEABLY WITH OTHERS

Romans 12:14-18

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Personal Challenge

Paul continues to challenge us on how to live righteous Christian lives. He sums it up at the end with the admonition to live peaceably with all men. How do we do this? We do this by blessing those who persecute us and not cursing them; rejoicing with those who rejoice; weeping with. those who weep; being of the same mind toward each other, associating with the humble, and not getting hung up on ourselves. We do not repay evil with evil and should always be focused on the good things of God. We must live our lives aggressively for God. Glory be to God!

November 10, 2021

HOW DO WE DO IT?

Romans 12:12

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Personal Challenge

If we are supposed to go through life loving our God and our neighbor, putting their needs and desires above ours, how do we do that? If we are to put up with the persecutions that the world will levy against us, how do we do that? Paul gives us some guidelines here. We rejoice in hope, the hope that is in our Lord Jesus Christ and the faith that we are in His hands eternally. Through that hope we can be patient in the tribulation that comes our way knowing that in the end we will be glorified in our Lord. And in the process of doing this we continue stead­fastly in prayer to our Lord and King. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

November 9, 2021

LOVE ABOVE ALL ELSE

Romans 12:9

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Personal Challenge

Paul makes it clear that we are to hate the evil things of this world and to cling to the things that are good. Many have gotten good at the first piece of this but also taken it to the extreme that their hatred of the evil things has carried over to the hatred of the person doing the evil things. We must remember that he starts this admonition off by telling us to love without hypocrisy. He is basing this on Jesus telling us to love God and to love our neighbor above all else, we are to hate the evil, but still love the person who has been created in the image of God that we might win them over to that which is good, the love of God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

November 8, 2021

ONE BODY

Romans 12:4-5

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Personal Challenge

It is often difficult for us to remember that God's Church is comprised of many parts, many people, that make up one unified body. All these parts are needed in order to complete the work that God has called the Church to do. When we get to the place where we exclude, even denigrate, other Christian faith practices because they are different than us, then we have become enemies of the Church. We should always be on the guard for erroneous teaching and heresies, but be loving and supportive of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Glory be to God!

November 7, 2021

LIVING SACRIFICES

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Personal Challenge

I have spent most of my life, living in an age where it was safe to live our Christian life without any fear or concern about persecution. Christianity has been tolerated by most. However, we are entering into a time where the concept of being a Christian has been mainstreamed in our society and bastardized to be conforming to the world rather than set apart for God. In the name of Christianity, people are storming our capital and school board meetings threatening people's lives for their definitions of godliness. We are seeing resistance in our churches for choosing to follow and be submissive to our hierarchical leaders in the cause of exercising our "rights" to do what we want. The day may be coming soon, if it is not already here, where people proclaiming to be Christians will be persecuting other Christians who are choosing to adhere to the 2,000 year old teachings of our Lord. This will be a time where we will truly be living sacrifices for our God! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

November 6, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. Augustine of Hippo

November 5, 2021

THE MIND OF GOD

Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

“For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor?”
“Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Encouraging Words

It has always been encouraging to be able to submit to another who knows so much more about something than I do. Whether it be in work or in volunteering, when the leader is knowledgeable in the space that we are working in, it is easy to let them lead. This is the way it should be in our lives and our relationship with God. He has so much more knowledge and wisdom than all of creation added together let alone me, He has no need for a counselor. He knows all and is in all. No one or nothing can ever know His mind. Knowing and believing this makes it so much easier to yield to Him and let Him lead my life. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

November 4, 2021

HOW?

Romans 10:14-15

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Personal Challenge

We are challenged here by Paul, to be preachers, emissaries, of the gospel of Christ. We do not get welcomed into the family of God just to go sit in the comfortable corner of the Kingdom of God and let everyone else do His work. We are called to share His life giving gospel with everyone that we meet. We share this gospel by our actions as well as our words. By doing this we are bringing glad tidings of good things to the world around us. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

November 3, 2021

BELIEVE AND CONFESS

Romans 10:8-13

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

Personal challenge

God loves us. Jesus died for us. These are irrefutable truths. If we truly believe this, with our whole heart, soul, spirit, mind, and body, and are willing confess this belief every moment of our lives, then we are partakers in Gods' love. This profession of our faith is not a once in a lifetime event. It is a never ending, day after day, moment by moment willingness to proclaim that Jesus is our Lord and our choice to follow and obey Him. By doing this our lives are changed from a worldly focus to a heavenly focus. By living this way we will never be put to shame. Glory be to God!

November 2, 2021

MORE THAN CONQUERORS

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Encouraging Words

This passage is full of so many wonderfully encouraging words about the relationship that we have with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing, absolutely nothing, in this temporal, physical realm can separate us from the love of Christ. If I choose to continue to pursue sin in my life, if I desire to live in the ways of the world around me, even if I choose to deny Him, He still loves me and died for me. If I choose to accept this love from Him and try to walk in His footsteps then I will be a conquerer of everything that comes my way knowing that nothing can ever come between God and His love for me. This love is eternal. This love is complete. This love if from Him. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

November 1, 2021

WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?

Romans 8:31-32

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Encouraging Words

Because of who Jesus was, fully God and fully man, and the work that He did of going to the cross as an innocent man, God is for us, His creation. God has always loved us, but when Adam and Eve sinned a chasm between us and God was established and death set in to reign over us. Jesus broke the bondage that death had on us and bridged that chasm so that we can once again be in intimate fellowship with our Father. Glory be to God!

October 31, 2021

ALL THINGS

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Encouraging Words

Is Paul presenting some kind of prosperity gospel here where God makes everything work together for our good? Absolutely not. If we love God and live our lives for Him according to His purpose, then we will only desire and pursue those things that will glorify Him and edify our neighbor. We will abandon the things of this earth, including all the teachings that we have heard that are contradictory to His teachings and pursue His righteousness. The things of this world; wealth, notoriety, fame, power, will no longer be important to us. God's economy will be our focus and this is where He will make all things work together for our good. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!